I was listening to a podcast this morning and the pastor was talking about regret among other things but how regret is a snare to us, keeping us chained to the past; a past that Jesus forgives freely (no matter what). Got me thinking about all the “greats” in the bible such as King David and his adultery, the Apostle Peter and his denial of Christ, or the Apostle Paul and his slaughter of Christians…and the list could on.
Yet, each of those people went on to do remarkable things and be known for great acts of faith. Forgiveness means we don’t have to walk around in regret nonstop. We confess, ask for forgiveness, and we move onto something better. I try to live a very transparent life because I never want to appear to be something I am not. The truth is there are a lot of religious circles that would not have me, a lot churches that would reject me, and a lot of self-righteous people that would sneer at me. I have had two babies out of wed-lock, committed adultery (yes, when you marry too young and you are both miserable, mistakes happen), fornicated, and the list could go on… sigh, They are not my finest moments but they make me human…some of those moments broke me, some of those moments threw me into the gutter.
And yet, God still called to me. I did not call to Him, I was not in a state of mind to call to Him, He ever-lovingly called to me and offered His hand to help me up out of my pit. Truth is during some of those moments I didn’t have anybody directing me to call on His name, I just felt shame and guilt surround me which fed the regret I so overwhelmingly had.
God took one look at me in that trench I got myself into, the gutter of pain and sorrow AND said “that is not what I have planned for you, get on your feet and I will lift you up, then walk with me.” It took me a while to get the walking with Him down on a consistent basis but I did (that doesn’t mean I am perfect far from that!).
Exodus 6:7…I’ll set you free with great power and with momentous events of justice. 7 I’ll take you as my people, and I’ll be your God. You will know that I, the Lord, am your God… (CEB) God is telling the Israelite people He will take them as His own, despite they were a broken, confused, worn-out, stubborn, tiny group of people, He wanted them. I love that!
Jeremiah 30:22 You will be my people, and I will be your God. God was not and is not a quitter on people, He pursues us into the sewer of addiction, depression, adultery, regret, guilt, bitterness, rebellion, unbelief, etc… His love is encompassing and desires to restore us right where we are. I aspire to love like that.
(And yes it transfers to the New Testament 2 Corinthian’s 2:16…I will live in them and will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” That means God desires YOU to part of HIS circle, HIS Kingdom, HE wants to live with you, imperfection and all!)
I don’t know what you are dealing with but I hope you learn to live a life not tethered to regret… that is not God’s desire for your life. I am a walking example of that… I have no right to be in ministry and yet that is where God has placed me… I never stop being amazed at God’s love me.
Psalm 86:15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. This was written by a man that was quite imperfect and yet still called a man after God’s own heart… (King David) Good Day, Ladies!
PS. Romans 8: 38 I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers 39 or height or depth, or any other thing that is created. Nothing can stop God from loving you, His love for you is infinite, He may not like your behavior, but His love remains. I hope you soak in God’s love today…